Coronavirus in Japan: Travel Updates

The World Health Organization's advice is as follows:

• Wash your hands regularly – with soap and warm water, or alcohol-based hand sanitizers (at least 60% alcohol)
• Maintain social distancing – avoid those who are coughing or sneezing (at least 1m). Some countries are implementing lockdowns and recommending keeping 2m from strangers.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth – potential points of entry for coronavirus particles
• Practice respiratory hygiene – covering your mouth when you cough, and disposing of tissues promptly followed by washing hands.
• Wear a mask – As of June 5th 2020, WHO adapted its advice to recommend wearing a face covering to help prevent the spread of infection. See their dedicated guidance here on face masks — it is increasingly common to see 'double masking' to counter new strains of the coronavirus too.

Summary: The WHO recommends wearing face masks as of June 2020.

There has been a lot of media coverage surrounding the use of masks, ranging from their effectiveness, differing attitudes in the West and the stigma of wearing them, and even instances of panic buying and price gouging.

If you are travelling in Japan and can find them, we recommend wearing a face mask as a general precaution. Whilst the common surgical mask is not thought to be effective against blocking microscopic coronavirus particles (aerosols), they can help with both respiratory hygiene (protecting others) and keeping you from needlessly touching your face (protecting yourself until you can wash your hands).

Whether you are already in Japan, preparing for a trip, or are planning ahead, we recommend taking out comprehensive travel insurance. This is both to insure against the prospect of unforeseen medical expenses if the need arise, but also against changing travel plans as the situation develops.

Note that it is essential to check your home country travel advice if you plan to travel to Japan. This is to ensure there is no impact on your insurance coverage.

Contact JNTO's Visitor Hotline. Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) operate a 24/7 visitor hotline service, available in English, Chinese, Korean and Japanese. It can be called for assistance in case of accidents or emergencies relating to the coronavirus:

• From Japan 050-3816-2787
• From Overseas +81-50-3816-2787

Japan's official guidance has been to encourage people to self-isolate if they suspect they have related symptoms: 

• 37.5°C (99.5°F) or higher fever lasting for 4 or more days,
• Cold symptoms
• Severe lethargy
• Breathing difficulties.

Japan has expanded its testing capabilities — see this list of COVID-19 testing facilities (Japanese).

Those in at-risk groups can expected to be referred for treatment and/or testing in a quicker timeframe.

This step-by-step consultation flow released by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government is an easy-to-follow guide on what to do if you think you may be affected by coronavirus-related symptoms. You can also consult:

• List of Covid-19 Consultation Centers (Japanese),
• List of medical institutions with foreign-language services (English),
• The JNTO Hotline: 050-3816-2787 (more info above) 

Multilingual coronavirus hotlines around Japan

Compare Japan's situation with countries around the world via WHO's daily sitreps, or view a real-time tracker.

Summary: As of Jan 2021, 152 countries and regions are subject to an entry ban for visitors who have passed through them within the last 14 days.

Please see JNTO's official site for the full list.

Those who are permitted entry to Japan will be subject to undergo PCR tests and to quarantine for 14 days at a location designated by the quarantine station chief for the time being (as of June 3rd). Public transportation should not be used during this time.

As of July 2020, re-entry procedures for foreign residents who may have been stuck overseas due to travel restrictions were relaxed.

As of Feb 2021, the rules allow both Japanese citizens and foreign residents (with valid residency status) to re-enter the country.

Visa applicants (student, dependent, business, or those with Certificates of Eligibility) are included in the current ban on foreign travellers, though exceptions may be made due to emergencies or humanitarian grounds. We suggest confirming with immigration on the latest status if you need to leave Japan yet plan to return.

Those returning from overseas are required to take a Covid-19 test within 72 hours prior to departure, submit the negative test result on arrival, then quarantine for 14-days whilst taking a second test within Japan. Quarantine rules must be adhered to, which include avoiding public transport or potentially spending several days in government-designated quarantine facilities if arriving from regions where newer coronavirus variants are widespread.